Today's Paper

J&K police kill two militants

The militants were identified as belonging to the Jaish-e-Mohammad outfit

Jammu: A counter-terror operation by the Jammu and Kashmir police on Tuesday resulted in the killing of two militants, allegedly planning a suicide attack in the State on the eve of the Independence Day celebrations.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Mukesh Singh said the operation was mounted after an intelligence input that the two were hiding in the Jakti forest area. After an hour-long battle they were shot dead.

The militants have been identified as cadre of the Jaish-e-Mohammad militant outfit, founded by Maulana Masood Azhar, a former clergyman from Bahawalpur area in Pakistani Punjab.

Masood Azhar was released by India in exchange for passengers of the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814.

A huge amount of weaponry was recovered from the possession of the slain militants, including two AK-47 rifles, seven magazines, five grenades, several AK rounds and RDX explosives. One of the militants has been identified as Mohammad Basharat, resident of Manshera area of the North-West Frontier Province.

In another encounter, a divisional commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad was gunned down in Kishtwar area of Doda district.

The militant has been identified as Abu Hasan, resident of Shekupura area situated in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Hasan was active in this belt for the past eight years.